Monday, March 9, 2015

With all the hype surrounding Google's modular smartphone platform, news of a modular tablet should come as no surprise. Spain-based ImasD Technologies is building such a device, the Click-ARM One, and is currently taking pre-orders for 289€, or just over $313 USD. The tablet is expected to launch sometime between June and September 2015.

For starters, don't let the "ARM" name fool you; this is not a joint partnership with the popular processor core company. The ARM term here means "Advanced Removable Modules," a technology that allows the consumer to switch out modules on the fly. This method eradicates the need to purchase an entirely new tablet when the old one becomes obsolete.

Out of the box, the base tablet configuration will come packed with the CK-HUB 101motherboard featuring two USB ports, HDMI output, Bluetooth 4.0 and dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity. The CK-Core module will provide the Samsung Exynos 4412 processor, 2 GB of DDR3 memory and the power micro-controller, while another CK module will provide 16 GB of storage. All of this will power an interchangeable multi-touch 10.1-inch screen with a 1280 x 800 resolution.

Additionally, the motherboard appears to offer four mini PCI Express slots. "All the modules that exist in the market compatible with the standard mini PCI Express," the FAQ stated. "The only thing you must bear in mind is the compatibility with the OS that you use."

In addition to the "out-of-the-box" components, imasD Technologies will also offer two additional Core modules in 2Q 2015, one with the Samsung Exynos 4412 chip with 1 GB of DDR3 RAM, and an Intel "Bay Trail" chip with 2 GB of DDR3 memory. In 4Q 2015, the company will provide four separate Core modules spanning the Samsung Exynos 3250 (with 512 MB of DDR3 memory) to the Exynos 5260 (with 4 GB of DDR3 memory). Unfortunately, the company did not provide pricing.

The company plans to provide additional modules in 2Q 2015, including internal storage ranging from 16 GB to 128 GB (eMMC), two radio modules, and more. For the Mini PCI Express slots, the company will provide a communications module with Ethernet and a USB 3.0 port, an RS232/RS485/TTL module, a 3G/GPS module and two others.

The FAQ stated that end users can make their own modules and connect them to the mini PCI Express slots. These modules can be sold on the market.

"You can make your own devices and commercialize them," the FAQ states. "We only provide the PCB Click ARM modules and core. You, with your own contribution, can make it different and sell it. Furthermore, you have mini-PCI Express ports based on the standard, which gives you flexibility in implementing your modules."

What's also interesting with this tablet is that it supports any Linux-based operating system, whether it's Android, Ubuntu Touch, Madex or even Tizen. The consumer can also uninstall and install the Linux-based platform of their choosing.

"Click ARM allows you to have modules with different systems in a memory chip and be able to remove and add a chip to start up with one OS or another," stated the FAQ.

Consumers interested in acquiring this tablet may need to pre-purchase here as soon as possible, as the company is only offering 1000 units for now.